Bridgewater, NJ- Over the past few weeks the Somerset Patriots have been announcing their 2018 squad. Here’s a look at some of the new faces joining the team this season.

Cory Riordan- Pitcher

Riordan enters his first season with the Somerset Patriots and third in the Atlantic League. He played with the Bluefish in 2015 and 2017; the latter season in which he was named an All-Star. The Fordham University alumnus carried a 7-3 record with a 3.29 ERA and 88 strikeouts against just 11 walks over 93 innings pitched in his 14 starts with Bridgeport last year. Riordan’s contract was purchased by the Fubon Guardians (CPBL) shortly after the All-Star Game, where he finished the season.

“I’m extremely excited to join Somerset,” said Riordan. “I’ve played parts of two years with Bridgeport and Somerset always struck me as an organization that does things the right way. They have always had great fan support and it’s somewhere I’m really looking forward to pitching.”

The Killingworth, Connecticut native went a combined 5-6 with a 3.62 ERA over 18 appearances (17 starts) over two separate stints with the Bluefish in 2015. He parlayed that success into a season in the Detroit Tigers organization in 2016. There, he recorded six wins over 27 appearances (24 starts) split between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo.

Riordan holds a 12-9 record with a 3.47 ERA and 170 strikeouts to 33 walks over 210 innings pitched in his two seasons in the Atlantic League.

Riordan spent the first seven years of his professional career in the Colorado Rockies organization, including stints at the Triple-A level in 2011-13. The former sixth-round draft pick holds a 61-66 record with a 4.31 ERA over 10 minor league seasons stateside.

Trevor Foss- Pitcher

Foss enters his first season with the Somerset Patriots and first in the Atlantic League. He has spent most of the previous two seasons with the Washington Wild Things in the Frontier League. There, the righty combined to go 20-8 with a 2.82 ERA and 154 strikeouts against 46 walks over 35 games (34 starts) over his two seasons, both in which he was named an All-Star. Foss also spun a franchise-record 12 complete games (including four shutouts) over his two seasons in Washington.

“I am more than excited to get going,” said Foss. “This will be an incredible opportunity for me to play at the best level of independent ball against some great talent. It will be fun to get a fresh start in a new league.”

The Janesville, Wisconsin native parlayed an 8-3 record with a 2.50 ERA in 2016 with the Wild Things into seven starts with Single-A Lake County in the Cleveland Indians organization at the end of the season. He returned to Washington in 2017 to post a 12-5 record with a 3.06 ERA over 20 starts.

Foss spent the first three years of his professional career in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organization, primarily as a relief pitcher. The Texas A&M – Corpus Christi alumnus won 16 games with a 3.75 ERA in the Angels system, including two years at High-A Inland Empire. He owns a 40-25 record with a 3.40 ERA over his five seasons of professional baseball.

Randy McCurry- Pitcher

McCurry enters his first season with the Somerset Patriots and first in the Atlantic League. The Oklahoma State University alumnus has pitched the last two years as the primary closer for the Evansville Otters in the Frontier League. Two years ago, McCurry led the league in saves (23) with a 3-3 record, 2.11 ERA and 41 strikeouts over 34 innings pitched. He was named to the All-Star game that year and was listed as the lone relief pitcher selected as a Post-Season All-Star.

“I’m excited to play in the Atlantic League this year,” said McCurry. “It’ll be a transition for me but I am ready to face some really good competition and help the team win.”

The Ada, Oklahoma native continued his strong play in the 2016 playoffs, recording three saves including a championship-clinching save for the Otters in game five of the Frontier League Championship Series.

McCurry followed up his impressive 2016 campaign with an equally strong 2017 in Evansville. The 6’1” righty went 4-1 with a 2.73 ERA and 17 saves over 26 appearances. He finished his two-year tenure in the Frontier League with a 7-4 record, 2.39 ERA and 40 saves over 61 relief appearances.

McCurry was a two-way player in college at Oklahoma State, including single-season school record of 10 saves in his freshman season. He was later drafted as an infielder by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2013 and spent one season with Low-A Hillsboro. He split time between second base and third base over 55 games with Hillsboro in 2013 before resuming his career as a pitcher in 2016.

Aaron Dudley- Infielder

Dudley enters his first season with the Somerset Patriots and first in the Atlantic League. He brings with him a decorated resume from his time in the Frontier League with the Normal Cornbelters. There, Dudley earned four All-Star selections over his five seasons (2013-17) and became the franchise’s all-time leader in RBI (290) and doubles (120). Additionally, Dudley’s 57 home runs rank second in Cornbelters’ history (59, Pat McKenna).

“I couldn’t be more excited to join Somerset,” said Dudley. “I have heard nothing but amazing things about the Patriots. I look forward to taking what I’ve learned in Normal and bringing that to Somerset to get that ring back!”

He has hit over .300 with at least 10 home runs, 60 RBI and an on-base percentage over .400 in each of his last four seasons as an everyday player, including a career-high .346 batting average in 2015. He finishes his illustrious Frontier League career with a .317 batting average over 394 games.

The Toledo, Ohio native spent the first three-and-a-half years of his professional career in the Miami Marlins organization before he signed with Normal in 2013. Dudley played his college ball at Toledo University, where he still ranks as the program’s all-time leader in RBI (150).

Dudley owns a .302 batting average with 69 home runs, 377 RBI and a .399 on-base percentage over his eight-year professional career.

Craig Massey- Infielder

Massey enters his first season with the Somerset Patriots and first in the Atlantic League. He has spent the past three seasons in the Frontier League, including the last two-plus seasons with the Southern Illinois Miners. The 6’2” right-handed batter split the 2015 season between the Schaumburg Boomers and Miners. That season, Massey hit a combined .286 with six home runs, 45 RBI and a career-high 23 stolen bases.

“I’m really looking forward to this great opportunity,” said Massey. “From what I’ve seen, there are some pretty great players that have played in Somerset in the past. Just getting a chance with a team like this, that is ready to compete for a championship, is really special. I can’t wait to get in and get started.”

The Bells, Tennessee native earned All-Star selections in each of the last two seasons with Southern Illinois. Massey hit .295 with five home runs and 40 RBI in 2016 before he hit .289 with two home runs and 43 RBI in 2017. Massey also stole a combined 31 bases over his last two years.

Massey hit .289 with 13 home runs, 128 RBI and 54 RBI over his three seasons in the Frontier League.

The Faulkner University alumnus began his professional career with the Sante Fe Fuego of the Pecos League in 2014. He finished second in the league in batting (.465) and RBI (80) with eight home runs and a .522 on-base percentage over 58 games that season.

Massey owns a .323 batting average with 21 home runs, 208 RBI, 63 stolen bases and a .401 on-base percentage over his four-year professional career.